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Peggy of 

Primrose Farm 



BY 
WILLIS N. BUGBEE 



Price 35 Cents 



yi!ii[ji!Jiy^yiyitfi!fiyiyiifi[fiyfi 



The Willis N. Bugbee Co 

SYRACUSE, N. Y. 



THE BUGBEE ENTERTAINMENTS 

ARE FAVORITES EVERYWHERE 



Peggy of Primrose Farm. Comedy in 3 acts by Willis N. 
Bugbee. A delightful rural play that fits any occasion. 6m., 
6f. Time 1% hours. 35 cents. 

Arrival of Reuben, The. College comedy in 1 act by Willis 
N. Bugbee. The theft of a suit of clothes causes a great com- 
motion. 5m., 5f, Time 1 hour. 35 cents. 

Priscilla's Room. Farce in 1 act by Louise L. Wilson 
Priscilla gains possession of the room by a clever ruse. Pull 
of action. 4m., 2f. Time, 30 minutes. 25 cents. 

Sampson's Courtin'. Sketch in 1 act by O. E. Young. 
Sampson goes courtin' but believe us it is a strenuous affair. 
Two men (one impersonating a woman). Time, 30 minutes. 
25 cents. 

Tom Thumb Circus. A dandy little entertainment for the 
very little people. Introduces the principal features of a 
circus. Any number of characters. 25 cents. 

The Deacon's Hqney moon. Comedy in 3 acts by Willis N. 
Bugbee. PMll of fun and a bit of mystery. Not sentimental. 
6m., 5 f. Time 1% hrs. 35 cents. 

Daddy and the Co-Eds. College comedy in 2 acts by Willis 
N. Bugbee. "Daddy" visits college and has a good time. 6m., 
6f-. Time lH hrs. 35 cents. 

Happyville School Picnic. A one-act play for intermediate 
and ungraded schools. One of our best. 7 boys, 9 girls. 
Time 40 min. or longer. 35 cents. 

Some Class. Commencement Play in 4 acts by Edith F. 
A. U. Painton, 6m., 9f. Claimed to be the best commencement 
play on the market. Full of good healthy humor. Time 1 
hour 40 min. 35 cents. 

Aunt Sophronia at College. College comedy in 3 acts by 
Willis N. Bugbee. One of the best short plays we have ever 
offered. Full of fun from start to finish. 5m., 7f. Time, I14 
hours, 35 cents. 

Billy's Aunt Jane. Comedy in 3 acts by Willis N. Bugbee. 
For school or community. Good darkey character. 8m., 7f. 
Time lVi» to 2 hours. 35 cents. 

Patriotism at Boggsvilie. Play for grammar grades. 8m., 
5f. Good for indoors or out. A very up-to-date play. Time, 
30 minutes. 25 cents. 

Hiram and the Peddlers. A farce in 1 act. The climax 
is a great surprise, 5m., 2f. Time, 30 minutes. 25 cents. 

Graduation at Gayville. A play for grammar grades. 6m., 
6f. Includes a mock commencement, class poem, etc. Time, 
30 minutes. 25 cents. 

THE WILLIS N. BUGBEE CO., SYRACUSE, N. Y. 



Bu^bee's Popular Plays 



Peggy of 

Primrose Farm 

A Comedy in Three Acts 



BY 
Willis N. Bugbee 



Author of ''Billifs Aunt Jane,'' ''The Deacons Honeymoon,'' 

'*Aunt Sophi'onia at College." ''Daddy and the Co-eds,'' 

"The Coonville 'Ristocrat Club," Etc., Etc. 



Copyright 1921, by Willis N. Bugbee 



THE WILLIS N. BUGBEE CO. 
Syracuse, N. Y. 



Peggy of Primrose Farm 

CHARACTERS ' " 

Peter Wright Master of ''Brookside Farm'* 

Ezra Mason P^gy's Father 

Phineas Pixley A Country Squire 

Timothy Hayford Otherwise ''Timothy Hayseed" 

"Sunny Jim" O'Reilly Man of All Work 

Captain Peter Wright A Shipwrecked Sailor 

Peggy Mason Mistress of ''Primrose Farm'' 

Betsy Mason Peggy's Mother 

Mrs. Mehitable Green A Country Busybody 

Madge Brownell Peggy's Chum 

Clover Blossom Peggy's Maid 

Nora McCarty Peter's Housekeeper 



ACT I.— Spring— Home of the Masons. 
ACT II. — Summer — Primrose Farm. 
ACT III.— Following Spring — Brookside Farm. 
Time of Play: One and three-fourth hours. 



COSTUMES 

Squire Pixley wears long frock coat, broad-brimmed hat 
with high crown, white vest, spectacles, and carries cane. He 
may, if desired, wear large gray sideburns. 

Madge, in Act III, wears travelling suit. ^ 

Capt. Wright wears coarse clothing, a seaman's cap with 
forepiece and sports stubby chin whiskers of grizzly gray. 

Others may dress in suitable farm costumes in Acts I and II. 
and in plain "dress up" clothes in Act III. 

TMP92-008732 

©C!.D 50000 OCT 29 19?' 



Peggy of Primrose Farm 



ACT I. 



Scene: A living room at the home of the Mason's. Old- 
fashioned furniture. The room appears very neat and prim. 
Broom and dust pan at one side. 

Clover is discovered dusting and tidyiryg the room. She 
sings to herself as curtain rises. 

Crx)VER. There! I don't believe there's a speck of dirt or 
dust left in this room. I've swept every inch of it and dusted 
every bit of furniture twice over. (Stops suddenly, looking un- 
der chair.) Well, just look under that chair! And I thought 
I'd got it all. If Mrs. Mason should see that she'd have a cat- 
nip fit. She's as 'fraid of a speck of dirt as any old maid I ever 
saw.- (Takes up dirt on dustpan. W/ji7e she is stooping over 
Timothy peeps in slyly and steals up behind her.) 

Timothy, Booh! 

Clover. (Startled. ivJiirls around quickly.) My land! How 
you scart me! I've a good mind to box your ears. 

Timothy (Laughing ayid chuckling.) He ! he ! he ! S'prised 
ye good that time, didn't I? 

Clover. I think you're just as mean as you can be, Timothy 
Hayseed. 

Tim. Ain't I told ye a dozen times my name ain't "Hayseed." 

Clover. It's a good enough name for you. That's what 
everybody calls you. 

Tim. I ain't to blame 'cause my front name's Timothy an' 
my 'tother name "Hayford." Anyways you can't say much your- 
self. 

Clover. Well, I'd rather be Clover Blossom than Timothy 
Hayseed any day in the week. 

Tim. Now don't let's quarrel, Clover — please don't. I come 
over to tell ye something nice. 

Clover. I know what 'tis and I don't care if you do love me 
to distraction and threaten to drown yourself in the creek or 
take castor oil — I mean carbolic acid. 

Tim. Aw, I didn't do any sech thing. 

Clover. Yes, you did. 

Ti]\r. Didn't neither, but I'm comin' over to pop the question 
again next Sunday night. 

Clover. Don't you dare ! Didn't I tell you last time I 
wouldn't make any promises till you got a steady job? 

Tim. That's what I come to tell ye 'bout. I've got one. 



4 PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 

Clover. Got what? . , 

Tim. Got a steady job. Goin' to begin tomorrow mornin . 

Clover. Who for? 

Tim. Peter Wright. 

Clover. For Peter Wright? What doing? 

Tim. Farmin'. . .4.0 

Clover. Say! Do you know what you're talking about? 

Or have you clean gone daffy? 

Tim Sure I know what I'm talkin' about Do you remem- 
ber w^en old Josh Wright died last fall an' they hunted all 
over for the will? , 

Clover. Course I remember. Folks said he never made one. 
Tim Well he did, an' they've just found it in an old chest. 
He left Brookside Farm to Peter an' Peter s gom to run it. 

Clover. Good night! Peter Wright don't know any more 
about farmin' than a canary bird. 

Tim Course he don't, an' that's where I come in. I m goin 
to run it for him— goin' to be manager. 

Clover Well you are a jolly jester. What will happen next. 
Tim It's a good job all the same— pays twenty-three dollars 
a month an' boar'd an" house rent free. Til tell ye more about it 
Sunday night when I come over. 

Clover. Why, is there more to tell? 

Tim. Oh gee— lots ! Say, I know something else, too. 

Clover. What is it? 

Tim. Oh, I can't tell— not jest yet. It's a secret. 

Clover. But you can tell me, can't you? 

Tim. Nope— can't tell anybody now, not even 

Clover. Your best girl? 
Tim. Can't tell nobody. 

Clover. Well don't tell if you don't want to. 
Mrs. M. (Outside.) Clover! 

Tim Gee ! There comes Mis' Mason. I'll have to beat it or 
she'll give me "Hail Columby." (Hustles off tipping over dust- 
pan.) 

Clover. Oh dear ! See what you've gone and done. 
Tim. Too bad. I'll give ye a kiss to pay. (Tries it.) 
Clover. No, you don't, Mr. Smarty. (Boxes Ms ear.) 
Tim. (Holding ear.) 0— oh ! Well, ta-ta, darlin', till Sun- 
day night. (Runs off L.) 

(Clover is busy brushing up.) 

(Enter Mrs. Mason R.) 
Mrs. M. Land sakes. Clover Blossom, ain't you got done 
cleanin' this room yet? You've been an hour at it by the clock. 
Clover. Yes ma'am, I had it all done but I had an accident. 



PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 5 

Mrs. M. I'll bet that good-for-nothin' Timothy Hayseed's 
been here again. Now ain't he? 

Clover. Ye-es, he — he was here just a minute. 

Mrs. M. I thought so. He's over here half the time. Why 
don't he get a job an' go to work like other folks? 

Clover. He has got a job, Mrs. Mason. 

Mr.s. M. He has? What doin'? 

Clover. Farming, for Peter Wright. (Talks very fast.) 
You see they've found old Mr. Wrights will in a big chest up 
in the garret and he's left Brookside Farm to Peter and Peter's 
going to run it and 

Mrs. M. Mercy sakes. child ! You rattle it off so I can't get 
head nor tail to it. You say they've found the will? 

Clover. Yes ma'am. 

Mrs. M. An' he left Brookside to Peter? 

Clover. That's what Timothy said, and he's going to work 
for him. 

Mrs. M. You don't say ! I wonder who he left Primrose 
Farm to? 

Clover. I dunno. I didn't have a chance to ask him, but 
probably you can find out of Mshitable Green. 

Mrs. M. Wal, if you've got all through in here you'd better 
go'n peel the taters for dinner. Ill have Sunny Jim fetch some 
water. 

(Sunny Jim is heard outside lohistling or singing any lively 
air. ) 

Clover. Sunny Jim's in the kitchen now. 

Jim. (Outside.) Mrs. Mason! 

Mrs. M. Yes, here I be. 

(Exit CivOver as Sinny Jim enters ivith a hen under each 
arm.) 

Jim. Say, Mrs. Mason, which wan iv these bins d'yez want 
me to set. They're both iv thim cluckin' their heads off? 

Mrs. M. Better set old Speckle — she's the biggest. 

Jim. All roight, mum. How many eggs shall I be settin? 

Mrs. M. I'd set about twenty. She'll take care of 'em all 
right. 

Jim. Shure an' she will that. Ramimber lasht year she 
had noineteen chicks an' wan duck an' she niver lost a wan iv 
thim? 

(Starts off humming to himself.) 

Mrs. M. Oh say, Jim 1 

Jim. Yis mum. 

Mrs. M. I wish you'd fetch a pail of water from the spring. 

Jim. Wid the greatest iv pleasure, mum. (Starts to go 
then turns quickly.) Now whoile I think iv it, Ould Squire 



6 PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 

Pixley's out to the barn talkin' wid the boss an' they're both iv 
thim that excited 

Mrs, M. Oh, has something happened? What do you think 
'tis? 

Jim. Begorra, I don't jist know whither onything's hap- 
pened at all or not. I didn't wait to see. Wuil, I'll be goin' for 
the water. {Exits whistling.) 

Mrs. M. Dear me ! I wonder what the Squire wants of Pa. 
He never comes over without it's something urgent. It can't 
be the mortgage 'cause that ain't due till next month. Mebbe 
he wants to buy one of them pigs Pa's got for sale. Here they 
come. 

(Enter Mr. Mason followed hy Squire Pixley.) 

Mr. M. Come right along in here an' sot down, Squire. 

Squire. Howdy do, Mrs. Mason. (Shake hands.) 

Mrs. M. Howdy, Squire. Take this easy chair. 

Mr. M. The Squire's come over on very important business, 
Ma. 

Squire. And very peculiar business, too. 

Mrs. M. Oh dear, I do hope 'tain't nothin' bad. 

Squire. No, no — nothing bad — don't be aJlarmed. It concerns 
your daughter. 

Mrs. M. Who? Our Peggy? 

Mr. M. Where is Peggy, Mother? 

Mrs. M. I ain't seen hide nor hair of her since the breakfast 
dishes was done up. I thought she went to the barn. 

Mr. M. She was out there feedin' the chickens but she came 
into the house last I seen of her. 

Mrs. M. I wonder where she can be. Mebbe Clover'll know. 
(Calls.) Clover! 

Clover. (Outside.) Yes ma'am. (Enters.) Did you call 
me, Mrs. Mason? 

Mr. M. Do you know where Peggy is, Clover? 

Clover. Now let me see — where did she say she was going? 
Oh, I know — she went up in the attic. 

Mr. M. Run up an' tell her to come down. 

Clover. I'll get her quicker'n scat. (Runs out.) 

Squire. (Taking papers from pocket and arranging them.) 
I'll be getting the documents ready. 

Mrs. M. Oh dear ! I hope Peggy hain't been up to something 
she hadn't oughter. 

Squire. Far from it. Your daughter's a girl to be proud of 
—a girl in a thousand. 

Mrs. M. Well, you bein' the Squire, an* the sight of them 
papers makes me real fidgety. 

Mr. M. You'll hear all about it soon's Peggy oomes, Ma. 
Squire. And as I said before 






PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 7 

{Enter Peggy and Clover.) 

Peggy. Here I am, Daddy. What's the matter? 

Mr. M. Set down an' the Squire'll tell ye all about it. 
(Peggy sits doum, Clover stands at he?- hack.) 

Squire. I have a very pleasant surprise for you, Miss Peggy 
— a very pleasant one and I must say, a very unexpected one. 
Isn't that so, Ezra? 

Mr. M. Gosh ! It most knocked me off my feet when I first 
heard of it. 

Mrs. M. I'm jest dyin' to know what 'tis. 

Clover. I bet I can guess. 

Squike. Listen and I'll tell you. I have here the last will 
and testament of the late Joshua Wright. It w\as made a year 
ago and hidden away in an old chest and was only found a few 
days ago. 

Mrs. M. Clover was jest tellin' they'd found it. 

Peggy. But really I don't see how that effects me in the 
least. 

Squire. The first part of the will doesn't effect you. It 
bequeaths Brookside Farm to his nephew Peter. 

Peggy. Which is just as it should be. He's the rightful 
heir. 

Sqiire. Now I'll read the second part. (Reads.) "To Miss 
Peggy Mason, who took such good care of me during my recent 
illness, and because I consider her an honest, capable and sen- 
sible young woman. I bequeath all that part of my real estate 
lying on the south side of Plum Creek known as Primrose Farm." 

Mrs. M. My stars an' garters ! Did he really mean to give 
that whole farm to our Peggy, Pa? 

Mr. M. It's right there on the paper in black an' white. 
You heard him read it. 

Clover. Now I know Timothy's secret. 

Peggy. Is it really true or am I dreaming? You're sure it 
isn't some kind of a joke. Mr. Pixley? 

Sqiire. As sure as I'm sitting here. I'm not the person to 
joke about such things. Miss Peggy. 

Peggy. Oh, of course not, but it does seem so strange. 

Sqi'ire. Well, the rest of it is stranger yet. Listen. 
(Reads.) "TTie sum of twenty thousand dollars now on deposit 
in the Grangers' National Bank I wish to be kept in trust for one 
year from the time this will is probated, after which time it 
shall be given to the one of the two beneficiaries who has ac- 
complished the best results during the year and who has been 
adjudged the more efficient larm manager. The only restriction 
is that they shall both live upon their respective farms and per- 
sonally attend to the management thereof. I appoint as judges: 
Prof. Henry Blair, Isaac Trimble and Squire Phineas Pixley." 
I think that's all of the will that will interest you. 



8 PEGGY OP PRIMROSE FARM 

Clover. Gee ! Twenty thousand dollars ! My goodness 
gracious ! 

Mrs. M. I don't know what to make of it. Do you, Pa? 

Mr. M. Why, it looks to me*s if Peggy got inter his good 
graces that summer when he was sick with rheumatiz an' now 
he's left her a farm. That's "bout the way it looks to me. 

Squire. A lucky girl, I call her. 

Peggy. But I can't accept it, Mr. Pixley — really I can't. 

Squire. I don't see how you're going to get out of it now. 
Of course you don't have to live on the farm unless you want to. 
In such case the money would go to Peter. 

Mrs. M. I don't see how she could live on it. 

Mr. M. For my part I ain't figured it out yet. 

Peggy. {Decidedly.) Well, if I must accept it, I'm going 
to live on it and I'm going to win out, see if I don't. 

Mrs. M. Why, Peggy, how can you? 

Peggy, Easy enough. You know there's a good house on 
the place and if you'll let Clover come with me and 

Clover {Clapping hands.) I'd love to do it. Won't it be 
fun! 

Peggy. And if Pa'U let me have Sunny Jim. 
{Enter Sunny Jim.) 

Jim. Roight here I be, mum. Phwat would yez be wantin' 
iv Sunny Jim? 

Peggy. How would you like to leave this place, Mr. O'Reilly? 

Jim. Och, divil a bit would I loike it — oxcuse me, mum — I 
mane I wouldn't loike it at all. 

Peggy. But if you were to work for me at Primrose Farm? 

Jim. Work for yez, did yez say, at Primorse Farm? Be- 
gorra, I don't understand. 

Mr. M. To make a long story short, Jim, old Joshua Wright 
took a shine to our Peggy here an' willed her that farm an' the 
will's jest been discovered. 

Jim. Jist so. 

Mr. M. An' Peggy's plannin' on runnin' it with your help 
an' Clover's. 

Jim. Bliss me soul. But she's a plucky gurl. Shure an* I'll 
do me part. 

Peggy. Thank you both, you and Clover. 

Squire. Well, it begins to look like business. I hope you'll 
succeed. I hope Peter succeeds. In fact I hope both of you 
succeed. Being one of the judges I can't do any different. 

Peggy. You can do as the advertisements say "Watch us 
grow." 

Squire. I shall certainly take great interest in watching 
you both grow. Now I've done my duty I shall have to bid you 
good day and good luck. 



PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 9 

(He starts to leave room and runs into Meihtable Green, 
who is entering.) 

Mrs. G. yiy land o' Goshen, Squire Pixley ! You most upsot 
me. 

Squire. Why don't you look where you're going, Mehitable 
Green? 

Mrs. G. I was lookin' but you run kerplunk into me. 

Jim, Haw ! haw ! haw ! A colision 'twixt the mail train an' 
the limited ixpriss, bedad. 

SguiRE. My advice is to be more careful next time. "Stop, 
look and listen." (Exit.) 

Mrs. M. Come right in an' set down, Mehitable. 

Mrs. G. Law sakes ! I never was so shook up in my life. 
But I was goin* to tell you — I jist saw Timothy an' he was tellin' 
me about old Joshua's will, so I hustled right over to see if it's 
true. 

Mr. M. There ain't any doubt but what he told ye jist as 
'tis. 

Mr.s. G. An' he says Peter's goin' to work tooth an' nail to 
get that twenty thousand. My land, jist think of it! Twenty 
thousand dollars I 

Pecgy. Well, if you see him you can tell him that I'm going 
to do the very same thing. 

Mrs. G. I want to know I An' you a girl, too. 

Peg(;y. Well, what of that? Lots of women and girls man- 
age farms now-a-days. 

Mrs. G. Mebbe they do, I dunno, but if you need any help 
don't be afraid to call on '*yours truly." 

Mrs. M. It's real good of you to offer. Mehitable. 

Mr. M. But she's jist engaged her help 'fore you come in. 

Peggy. And here we are — ( (Ci.ox-er at R.. Jim at L.) the 
co-workers who will try to make Primrose Farm a wonderful 
success. 



CLOVER, 
JIM. 
BOTH. 
PEGGGY, 



'Tis I will bo the dainty cook 
And thrifty housemaid, too; 

Mcsilf wull be the captain bold 
To boss the bloomin' crew; 

But if we strike the rocks and shoals 
Whatever shall we do? 

As pilot of the sturdy craft 

I'll guide you safely through. 

Curtain. 



10 PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 

ACT II. 

Scene: Living room at Primrose Farm. Plain old-fashioned 
furniture. A telephone on rear wall. 

Peggy is discovered telephoning. 

Peggy. Hello, is this you, mother? ^oh lovely! We're 

getting along splendidly no, just ready to begin haying 

what's that? yes, we'll have to have another man for a few 

days. I'm going to telephone to the Employment Bureau today 

yes um hm yes. Sunny Jim says we'll have bumper 

crops this year. But say ! I called you up to tell you that 

Madge came last night. Why, Madge Brownell? You've heard 

of her. She was my chum at school oh I can't say. She'll 

stay two or three weeks anyway, maybe all summer yes, 

she's real handy about the house oh, is that so — today? 

Well, why don't you drive around this way and stop in for a few 

minutes? That'll be just lovely. I'll look for you. Good-bye. 

(Hangs up received). Now I must call up that Employment 
Bureau and see if I can get a man to help Sunny Jim with the 
haying. (Looks up numher in book. Takes receiver.) Hello 

Central, give me 4267-J. Is this the Central Employment 

Bureau? — — 

(Enter Madge, unobserved by Peggy.) 

well say, have you a good man you could send out to Prim- 
rose Farm for a week or two to help at haying? yes yes 

How much does he want? Can he come tomorrow? 

All right, send a good steady man and a good worker Good- 
bye. (Ha7^gs up receiver.) Why, Madge, I didn't hear you 
come in. 

Madge. You seem to be pretty busy today. 

Peggy. I'm a busy woman all the time, Madge. 

Madge. Tell me truly, do you really like the business of 
managing a farm? 

Peggy. I love it — so far. Perhaps though when the novelty 
wears off, or if the weather and the seasons should be bad and 
things got to going crosswise I might change my mind, but I 
hope not. 

(Enter Clover.) 

Clover. Miss Peggy, the bread was all eaten up for dinner. 
What ever'll we do for supper? 

Peggy. Make some warm biscuit. Clover. We'll have warm 
biscuit and honey. 

Clover. Gee ! That makes my mouth water already. 
(Dances off singing Tra-la-laAa-la, etc.) 

(Enter Sunny Jim.) 
Jim. Phwat wull yez be doin' about the hayin' tomorrow, 
Miss? Is it yis or no? If yez say the word I'll be gettin' the 
mowin' machine ready. Iv course I can't do it alone, yez know 
that. 



PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 11 

Peggy. I just telephoned to the employment office and 
they've promised to send a man tomorrow morning. 

Jim. All roight. I'll be ready for him. If he's a good mon 
we'll jist make things hum. (Exit singitig ''hum dc dum de 
dum," etc.) 

Madge (Laughing.) You're a wonder, Peggy. They enter 
with a tale of woe and go away singing a song of joy. 

Peggy. Isn't it comical. 

Madge. There's one thing I wish you would tell me — and 
that is, why do they call this "Primrose Farm?" 

Peggy. TTiat's easy. You've heard me tell about Mr. 
Joshua Wright, haven't you — the old gentleman I took care of 
when he was sick? (Madge nods.) Well, he was an English- 
man and when he first came to this country years ago, he built 
this house and planted English primroses all around it. I sup- 
pose it was beautiful to behold. Then people got to calling it 
the "Primrose Farm" and the name still clings to it. You may 
still see a few of the primroses in the dooryard. 

Madgp:. But were there no other heirs besides this Peter 
you tell about? 

Peggy. None living that we know of. Peter's father and 
mother died in England some years ago and Peter, being an 
only child, was sent over here to his uncle. Old Mr. Wright 
had one other brother but he was a sailor and was shipwrecked, 
so it is said. 

Maik;p:. How funny things do happen sometimes, don't thoy? 
Well, here comes a caller. I wonder if it's another tale of woe. 

Peggy. It's Mehitable Green. You may be sure she's got 
some kind of a tale to tell. 

(Enter Mrs. Green.) 

Mhs. G. Howdy, Miss Peggy. Jest thought I'd run in a 
minute on my way from the store. Oh, excuse me — you've got 
company. 

Peggy. My friend. Madge Brownell, Mrs. Green. She used 
to be my chum at school. (Greetings.) 

Mus. G. I want to know 1 Real glad to know you, Miss 
Brownell. 

Madge. The pleasure i£ mutual. 

Mrs. G. Goin' to stay long? 

Madge (Laughing.) W^hy — er — I can't say how soon Peggy 
will send me home. 

Peggy. I'm going to keep her all summer if I can. 

Mus. G. Well, do tell 1 Ain't that real nice But say I 

I jest stopped in to Peter Wright's on my way an' they're 
awfully upsot over there. 

Peggy. Why, what's happened? 

Mrs. G. Oh, somebody got into Peter's prize cornfield last 
night an' broke an' trampled down a lot of his corn. They heard 



12 PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 

the dog barkin' an' this morning' they found a man's hat in the 
lot an' 

GiELS. My goodness ! 

Peggy. Who do they think it was? 

Mrs. G. Timothy swears uphill an' down that the hat be- 
longs to Sunny Jim. 

Peggy. To Sunny Jim? Impossible! It can't be! 

Mrs. G. Wal, of course I don't know. He says it's one he's 
seen him wear. But Nora McCarty says 'tain't, so there you be. 

(Voice outside calls "Help! Help!" Others run to door.) 

Madge. Goodness! What's happened? 

Mrs. G. Wal, did you ever ! It's Timothy Hayseed an' he's 
sprawlin' on the ground. 

Peggy. He's got hurt. And there's Sunny Jim running to 
help him. (Calls.) Bring him right in here, Jim. 

Mrs. G. That boy's allers up to something or other. I 
never see the beat. 

(Enter Sunny Jim supporting TiMoTrHY, the latter with 
streaks of ''Mood'' on forehead and hand.) 

Madge. Oh mercy! How did it happen? 

Jim. He was ridin' a boicycle an' — 

Timothy. An' I took a header over the handle bars. O — oh ! 
My head! 

Peggy. Well, sit right down here and I'll get some water to 
bathe it. (Rushes out.) 

(Enter Clovee.) 

Clover. Oh dear! Is he killed? 

Timothy. Not quite, but I come purty nigh it. 

Mrs. G. Run an' get some cloths to bind him up an' some- 
thing to put on. Hurry! 

Clover. (Running off.) Oh dear! Oh dear! 

(Enter Peggy with dish of water and cloth. She proceeds 
to wash it very tenderly. Madge holds dish.) 

Peggy. Does it hurt now, Timothy? 

Tim. N — no, not much, but I wish — that is, I wish — 

Peggy. Well, what do you wish? 

Tim. Why, I wish— (Aside.) Gosh ding it— (Aloud.) 1-^ 
I wish you'd let Clover do it. 

(Girls laugh. Enter Clover.) 

Peggy. Why, surely she may. Here. Clover ! Timothy wants 
you to do this. 

Clover. Me? Oh my goodness ! 

Mrs. G. Wal now, ain't that the beatenes' idee you ever 
heerd tell of! 



PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 13 

Jim. Shure an' I moight as well be goin' about me work. 
Wid a house full iv wimmen he's all roight, an' that's no joke 
at all. 

(Exit, and is heard singing oU stage.) 

Mrs. G. I don't see's you need me, neither. Mebbe I'd better 
go over'n tell Peter to come an' get him in his ortomobeel. 

Peggy. Just as you like, Mrs. Green. 

Mrs. G. Wal, good-bye, girls. I'll run in again some day. 
(Exit.) 

Peggy. There ! Now let's bind up his wounds. 

Madge. (Taking up bottle.) Why, what's this?— hair oil. 

Clover. Oh, I got the wrong bottle. I meant to bring the 
arnica. (Runs off and returns icith another bottle.) 

Peggy (To Timothy.) Now lean your head over this way. 
(To Cix)VER.) You put the arnica on. Clover ,then Madge and I 
will attend to the bandages. 

Timothy. Oh gee I I don't want them old rags on. 

(They continue to bind head and hand.) 

Peggy. But you must. You're our patient and you must 
submit to our treatment. 

Tim. Then I s'pose I'll have to. 

Madge. There ! Isn't he a real nice-looking patient? 

Peggy. Scrumptious I 

(Some one outside calls, ''Peggy.'") 

Peggy. Oh. there's father and mother ! Come, Madge, let's 
go and bring them in and see our patient. 

Tim. Gosh ! You folks make me sick. 

(Girls rush out.) 

Clover. Feel any better now, Timothy? 

Tim. Yes, a good deal. I'm all right. 

Clover. How did it ever happen? 

Tim. Oh my wheel went into an old wagon rut an' stopped 
an' I jest went on — that's all. But say, Clover, I've been wantin* 
to ax you something for quite a spell. 

Clover. Well, what is it? 

Tim. Don't you think I've been workin' pretty steady lately? 

Clover. Yes, I guess you have. 

Tim. An' you know what you promised me soon's I got a 
steady job, don't you? 

Clover. Yes. I know— but Timothy — 

Tim. Now don't go to buttin' again. You're Jest like Peter's 
old Billy goat — always a buttin." 

(Enter girls followed by Mr. and Mrs. Mason.) 

Peggy. Here's our patient. 

Mrs. M. Why, it's Timothy! He was jist over to our house. 



14 PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 

Mr. M. Wal, I swan ! They've got you tied up pretty well. 
What struck ye, Tim? 

Tim. Didn't nothin' strike me. I struck the road. Keeled 
right over the handle bars. 

Mrs. M. Dear me suz ! 

Mr. M. Lucky you've got a good solid head. 

Peggy. Why, Pa! How you talk. 

Mrs. M. Peggy, we do think your crops are looking splendid 
— what we could see from the road. 

Peggy. Sunny Jim says we're bound to win that twenty 
thousand. 

Mr. M. By the way, Timothy was tellin' us that Peter had 
a lot of his corn crop ruined last night. 

Tim. Sure he did. 

Mr. M. An' he says they found Jim's old hat in the lot this 
morning'. 

Tim. That's so. I've seen him wear it lot's of time, 

Peggy. But Pa, you don't believe for a minute that Sunny 
Jim would do such a thing, do you? 

Mr. M. Wal no, I wouldn't a thought he'd do it, but it 
does look kinder suspicious — now don't it? 

Tim. 'Specially when you find his hat right where he left it 
when the dog scart him away. 

Peggy. Sunny Jim hasn't worn that old hat lately. He 
keeps it hanging up in the shed. Go and see if it's there now. 
Clover. 

Clover. Yes, ma'am. (Exit.) 

Peggy. Besides he didn't go away at all last night. He 
went to bed early. 

Mr. M. Which ain't sayin' he might have slipped out arter- 
wards. 

(Enter Clover, excitedly.) 

Clover. It ain't there. Miss Peggy. I've looked all over. 
Oh, you don't suppose — 

Tim. Didn't I tell you? 

Clover. Well, here comes Mr. Peter now. 

Mr. M. Then we'll hear what he's got to say. 

(Enter Peter and Nora.) 

Peter. Good afternoon, folks. 

(Others respond in similar way.) 

Peggy. You've met my friend. Miss Brownell, haven't you, 
Peter? 

Peter. Don't think I have. (They how.) Glad to meet you. 
Madge. And I am very glad to meet you, Mr. Wright. I've 
heard so much about you. 

Peter. Hope it was something good. 



PEXJGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 15 

Madge. Oh, it was. 

Peggy. And here's Miss Nora McCarty. 

Nora. That's me, shure enough. 

(Madge laughs and boics.) 

Peggy (To Peter.) And here is Mr. Timothy Hayford. our 
patient. 

Peter. Well, great Scott ! You're a fine looking specimen. 

Tim. Guess I do look worsen' I be. 

Nora. Yez do that. I thought by phwat Mrs. Green said 
that yez were brathin' your lasht, an' for that I lift me bakin' 
in the oven. An' here yez be laughin' at me, ye spalpin. 

{Others lav^h.) 

Mr. M. (To Peter.) We were just talkin' about your corn 
when you came in. 

Peter. I think you'll have to admit it was a dastardly trick. 

Mr. M. We sartainly do — an' specially as it was one of the 
finest pieces of corn in the county. 

Peter. The very finest without exception. Everybody said 
so. I don't think the scoundrel would have left a spear standing 
if Tige hadn't appeared on the scene. 

Pkggy. But really, you can't think that Sunny Jim had 
anything to do with it? 

Peter. Don't think — I know. We've got the evidence. 

Peggy. But only circumstantial evidence. 

XoRA. You're roight, Miss, 'tis only sarcumshtantial 
ividence, so it be — 

Petek. It's enough to satisfy me, at any rate. 

Peggy, But how could he do it when he wasn't out of his 
room? 

Peter. Are you sure he wasn't out of his room? 

Peggy. Quite sure. Did you hear anything of him. Madge? 
His room is next to yours. 

MAm.E. I heard him snoring all night. I didn't sleep well 
myself because — well, I never can sleep much the first night 
in a strange room. And then, when I did get into a drowse he 
would start in louder than ever and wake me up. 

{Enter Suxny Jim. excidedly.) 

Jim. Och, worry. Miss, I've got bad news this toime — oxcuse 
me. I didn't know yez had so much company. 

Peggy. Never mind the company, Jim — what's the bad news? 

Jim. Och, I've jist discovered a plot. 

Several. A plot? 

Jim. Yis mum. a low-down threacherous plot. I was jist 
lookin' under the hay barn for a couple iv boards an' phwat 
should I foind but a pile iv shavin's wid a lot iv matches clost 
by an' — 



16 PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 

Mrs. M. My goodness sakes ! 

(All appear interested.) 

Peggy. Do you think someone tried to burn the barn? 

Jim. Shure an' I do, mum. The shavin's was half burned 
up, but I'm thinkin' they was to grane to burn good an' — 

Madge. Isn't it dreadful! 

Mb. M. Gosh a mighty! Wonder who could have done sech 
a thing as that. 

Jim. I dunno who 'twas, but I found this handkerchief 
roight there besoide it. 

(Holds up haiidker chief.) 

Peggy. Let me see it. (Takes it and examines same.) 

Madge. Look, Peggy! There's some reading on it. 

Peggy. (Examining it.) Well, of all things! Do you 
know anything about it, Peter? It's got your name on it. 

Peter. My name? Must be a mistake. I never had a hand- 
kerchief like that — never. 

Peggy. But you can see for yourself. It says "Peter Wright" 
as plain as day . 

Tim. Gee ! I never seen him have one like it. 

Peter. Where did you say you found it? 

Jim. Roight under the north-east corner iv the hay barn, 
jist forninst that bunch iv shavin's. 

Clover. My sakes, ain't it funny. Everybody's finding some 
evidence. 

Peter. What are you talking about? 

Clover. Why, didn't you find Mr. Jim's hat in your corn- 
field? That's evidence number one. Now he finds your hand- 
kerchief under our barn. That's evidence number two. 

Peter. But I tell you it isn't my handkerchief. 

Jim. Phwat d'yez mane by foindin' me hat in his corn 
patch? 

Peter. She means that some one destroyed part of my corn 
last night and this morning your hat was found there. What 
have you got to say for yourself? 

Jim. (Holding liis hat.) Roight there's me hat. 

Tim. Aw, 'tain't that one — it's your old felt one we're 
talkin' about. 

Jim. Thin you'll foind it hangin' out in the shed where I 
lift it. 

Clover. It isn't there, Mr. Jim, I looked to see. 

Jim. Thin begorra, somebody's shwiped it on me. Onyways 
I was abid an' ashlape all noight, so I was. 

Madge. I'm sure of it. 

Nora. Faix an' I don't belave ayther wan iv 'em did phwat 
yez think they did. 



PEXKJY OF PRIMROSE FARM 17 

Peter. What do you mean, Nora? 

Nora. I mane that I don't belave 'twas yersilf that sot the 
barn afoire, an' I don't belave Jim destroyed the corn. I can't 
go back on me Jim because I — I — you tell 'em Jim. 

Jim. We're engaged. 

(Laughter and exclamations follow.) 

Peter. Great Scott ! 

Mrs. M. My goodness ! Things are gettin* into an awful 
muddle. I dunno how they'll ever get straightened out. Do 
you, Pa? 

Mr. M. Gosh ding it, I dunno 'less we get one of them 
detective fellers. 

Madge. I've just thought of something, Peggy. Do you 
remember that time at school when we missed so many things 
from our lockers? 

Peggy. Oh, don't I. 

Maixje, And you know how I ferretted out the thief? 

Peggy. I certainly do remember it. 

Mai>ge. Well, my idea is for you folks to go right on Just 
being good friends and neighbors and — and so forth, and let me 
be the detective. I will try to solve the mystery. 

Peggy. A regular lady Sherlock Holmes. 

Peter. I'm willing to do as she says. 

Peggy. So am I, Peter. 

Tim. Good scheme, I'll say. Eh, Clover? 

Clover. Sure thing. 

Mrs. M. An' we'll trust to Providence that everything turns 
out all right in the end. 

Mr. M. Wal. we'll have to be gettin' started, Ma. 

Peter. And we. too. Come on, Timothy and Nora. (He 
assists Timothy.) 

Nora. Shure we will for I lift me bakin' in the oven. 

(Mr. and Mrs. M., Peter, Timothy and Nora hurry off, 
Timothy limping.) 

Quick Curtain. 



ACT III. 



Scene: Living room at Brookside Farm. Furnishings simi- 
lar to those in Act II, soine changes being made hy shifting the 
position of furniture and hy use of different table coverings, 
tapestries, tidies, etc. 

Nora is discovered putting on a clean white apron, after 
which she busies herself straightening tidies, etc. 



18 PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 

Nqra. Faix an' I think I've got iverything r^ady for the 
parthy this avenin'. To be shure it won't be much iv a parthy— 
jist a few iv the nabors, bui it's all the same to mesilf whither 
it's wan or a dozen. I wouldn't have onywan sayin' that Nora 
McCarty ain't a good housekaper. Whin I git to kapin' house 
iv me own you'll always foind it as nate an' clane as a wax 
candle. An' that makes me think— it won't be long before me 
name wull be Mrs. James O'Reilly. 

An' oh! How swate will be the sound 

Of Mrs. James O'Reilly, 
An' ivery wan that calls on me 
Will praise me very hoighly. 
(Enter Petee.) 

Peter. What were you saying just now, Nora? 

Nora. Och nothin' but jist some blarney iv me own. 

Peter. Everything looks as slick as a whistle here. 

Nora. That's phwat I was sayin' to mesilf "Folks praise 
me very hoighly.^ 

Peter. The future Mrs. O'Reilly. 

Nora. Go on wid yez now. Yez make me blush. 

Peter. Do you realize that it's been just a year since you 
came to keep house here, Nora? 

Nora. Faix, an' I was jist thinkin' iv it this day. 

Peter, It hasn't been such a bad year after all, everything 
considered. 

Nora. I should say not, barrin' a few thrubbles that cropped 
up now an' thin. 

Peter. There are one or two things that I would like to 
see explained, but I expect they will always remain mysteries. 

Nora. Wull, jist have faith. Mebbe the good Lord will 
make things clear to us some day. 

Peter. (Lookintf at watch.) It's most time somebody 
showed up. 

Nora. I thought I heard some wan jist thin. Shure an' it's 
Mehitable Green. Come roight in, Mrs. Green. 

(Enter Mrs. Green.) 

Mrs. G. My land ! Am I the first one here? 

Peter. Has that appearance, doesn't it? 

Mrs. G. Well, I'd rather be the first one than the last. I 
never like to be late. Say, Peter, I do hope the judges will de- 
cide in your favor tonight. I think you deserve it. 

Peter. And I suppose you've already told Peggy the same 
thing, haven't you? 

Mrs. G. Why I — now Mr. Wright, of course you know I'd 
like to see you both get it. Really, I couldn't say I hoped she 
wouldn't get it. Could I? 



PBOGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 19 

Peter. It wouldn't be very complimentary, that's a fact. 
{Enter Timothy.) 

Tim. Hain't nobody got here yet? 

Peter. Where are your eyes? Can't you see Mrs. Green. 

Tim. Shucks ! That's nothin'. She's here half the time 
anyway. 

Mrs. G. Now, Timothy Hayseed, you know better. 

Tim. I ain't Timothy Hayseed an' you know it. 

(Voce outside calls ''whoa.'") 

Peter. There's Ezra and Betsy Mason. Go and take care 
of their horse, Tim. 

Tim. You betcha. ( (Riuis off.) 

(Enter Mrs. M. foUawed by Ezra.) 

Peter. Come right along In, folks, and make yourselves to 
home. Brookside is yours tonight. 

Mrs. M. Thanky, Peter. I declare if Mehitable ain't got 
the start of us, Pa. 

Mr. M. That's nothin' new. She allers does. 

Mrs. G. I ain't been here long. Have I, Peter? 

Peter. Not very. 

Clover. (Just outside L.) Well, I don't want him for my 
beau and I wouldn't have him neither. I've got a feller of my 
own. So there. 

(Enter Cix)ver.) 

Mr. M. What 'pears to be the excitment. Clover? 

Ci.ovER. Nothing only Nora McCarty's jealous. She thinks 
I'm settin' my cap for Sunny Jim just cause we walked over 
here together, but I wouldn't give a picayune for that old paddy- 
whack. 

(Others laugh. Loud voices outside.) 

Mrs. G. Now she's givin' it to Jim. "True love never did 
run smooth." 

(The "hank, honk" of an auto is heard.) 

Mrs. G. There's the Squire's automobeel. I can always 
tell it. 

Peter. (At door.) Good evening Squire. Come right in. 
(They sh^ke hands.) 

Ladies. Yes. do come in, Squire. 

Squire. Good evening, ladies. (Bows.) — and here's Ezra, 
too. Glad to see you. (They shake hands.) 

Ezra. Be you all alone? 

Squire. Yes, Professor Blair and Mr. Trimble couldn't come 
— had other engagements — so they left me to finish the job. 
(Looks around.) Everybody here that ought to be? 



20 PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 

Peter. Peggy hasn't come yet. I don't know why. 

Mrs. M. We thought she'd be here. 

Mr. M. So we drove around by the lower road. 

Clover, I know where she is. She went down to the station 
to meet Miss Brownell. 

Mr, M. Madge comin' agin? 

Mrs. M. Why yes, Pa. Didn't I tell you yesterday she was 
comin' to spend her vacation, 

Mr. M. Wal. mebbe you did — I forgot. (To CL0^^R.) What's 
the reason Jim didn't drive? 

Clover. Cause she wouldn't let him. She wanted to go 
alone, 

{Enter Jim followed ty Nora.) 

Jim. Begorra, that's a fact. I thryed me bist. 
{Enter Timothy.) 

Tim. Tliere's a buzz wagon comin' up the road. Couldn't 
see who 'twas, though. 

{Honk of auto is heard.) 

Mr. M. It's Peggy. 

Tim. Now we're goin' to hear all about it. Gee ! I hope 

Clover. Timothy Hay, you keep still. You needn't go to 
hoping anything at all. 

{Enter Peggy and Madge.) 

Peggy. Well here we are at last. The train was late or 
we'd have been here sooner. 

Several. Hovvdy do, Miss Brownell. Glad to see you back. 
{Genercd handshakings.) 

Squire. I guess you liked the country pretty well or you 
wouldn't come again. 

Jim. Jist loike the birds thaat come to us ivery summer. 

Madge. True enough. I enjoyed myself immensely last 
year and I'm glad — real glad to be back aagin with you all. 

Squire. I think myself it's a pretty ,good corner of the 
earth to live in. 

Nora. Faix, an' 'tis mesilf has seen lots worse. 

Squire. Well, now hadn't we better get to business? "Busi- 
ness before pleasure" is a pretty good maxim. 

Mrs. G. Jest what I was thinkin'. I'm real anxious to know 
how things are goin' to turn out. 

Several. We all are, 

Tim, I'll bet on Peter. 

Clover. I'll bet Miss Peggy wins. 

Squire. Hold your horses. This is no betting game. 

Peter. Never mind the kiddos. Go ahead. Squire. 

•Squire. Well, as you all know, the will of Joshua Wright 
specified that the sum of twenty thousand dollars was to be kept 



PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 21 

in trust for one year, after which it was to go to the one who 
had made the best showing in that time. 

Several. Yes ! Yes ! 

Squire. Well, the three judges have kept pretty close tab 
on both of you. We've watched the crops growing, and how you 
took care of them, and we've seen what has been produced and 
we've figured it all up and talked the matter over among our- 
selves until 

Tim. (Hand on heart.) Gee! My heart goes pitter patter. 

Squire. But you must realize that it's not an easy thing 
to judge. While the size of the two farms and the soil and the 
drainage are about equal, there are a good many other things 
to take into consideration — a good many. But you've both done 
remarkably well. I congratulate you both on your success at 
farming. 

Mr. M. Hain't you forgot something, Squire? You didn't 
tell us who gets it. 

Squire. I'm just coming to it, Ezra. As I said before it 
was a hard matter to decide. Prof. Blair of the Buxton Agri- 
cultural School thought Miss Peggy should have it. (Clover 
nudges Tim.) On the other hand, Mr. Trimble, the Farm 
Bureau man, was in favor of Peter. (Tim nudges Clover.) But 
as for me I couldn't see much difference either way, so you see 
we had a lot of arguments pro and con. Finally the upshot 
of it all is that we've decided the money should be divided even. 

Several. Good! Good! That's fair! 

Tim. How about Peter's corn? 

Squire. We've taken all that into consideration. Every- 
thing's been considered. 

Peggy. While we are speaking of that, Madge has some- 
thing to tell us. You know she was to be our detective. 

Jim. Begorra, she didn't do much detectin'. 

Madge. But I have had better luck duriag the winter. 

Mr. M. Where? 

Madge. Right in Blockton, my own home city, I have solved 
the mystery and discovered the plotter. 

All. You have? 

Peteb. You know who destroyed the corn? 

Jim. An' who set foire to the barn? 

Madge. I know all about it, and if you will pardon me I will 
cease to be a detective and become a magician. With my magic 
wand I will reveal him to you. 

(Exclamations of "My land!" "Gos/i.'" '7 want to knowT 
etc.) 

Madge. (Using a folded fan for wand which she waves in 
the air.) 

"Ena, Mena, Mina, Mo" 

Hither oome your face to show. 



22 PEGGY OP PRIMROSE FARM 

(She stamps three times, waves fan and stamps three times 
<iij(Hn.) 

(Enter Capt. Wright.) 

Mauge. Ladies and Gentlemen! Here is your man. Allow 
uie to present to you Capt. Peter Wright. 

(General exclamations again.) 

Peter. What? My uncle that was shipwrecked? 

Capt. Shipwrecked several times but too t€ugh to drown. 

Madge. Perhaps you'd better tell them your story, Captain. 
They're all waiting to hear it. 

Capt. All right, Miss, an' what I tell ye will be gospel 
truth. 'Twon't be no sailor's yarn. I'll begin back nigh onto 
forty years ago when Josh an' me came across from England. 
Josh was for settlin' down but I was allers a rover an' loved the 
sea. Howsumever, Josh persuaded me to lend him five thou- 
sand dollars an' with that he bought the farm jest across the 
creek from here an' stocked it an' built a house, while I set out 
on a sea-farin' life. I hadn't been sailin' moren' a year when 
we was shipwrecked off the coast of Barbadoes an' only me n' 
Skipper Bill was saved. Skipper Bill an' me've been pardners 
ever since, an' together we've sailed the Seven Seas. 'Bout a 
year ago we was in another shipwreck an' as luck would have 
it, Bill an' me was the only ones saved again. 'Twas then we 
decided to quit the sea for good an' all, an' we headed back here. 
When I found Josh was dead, the farm in other hands an' my 
five thousand gone, somehow I felt sorter riled up. I talked 
it over with Bill an' we vowed to get even. It was Bill's part 
to destroy that prize corn an' I was to fire the barn on the 
Primrose Farm. But the dog scart Bill away an' my conscience 
wouldn't let me do my part, so we drifted to Blockton where 
this young lady found us. That's all I've got to say. 

Squire. Seems to me that pretty near clears things up. 

Tim. But how come it Sunny Jim's hat was found in the 
corn lot? 

Capt. I reckon mebbe 'twas one that Bill picked up some- 
wheres while we was reconnoiterin'. 

Jim. An wheriver is the loikes iv this Skipper Bill? 

Capt. He ain't been feelin' well for a few days so he stayed 
in Blockton. But he sends his regrets an' we both of us ax 
your pardon. 

Peggy. If what you say is true, then Primrose Farm really 
belongs to you. Doen't it, Mr. Pixley? 

Squire. The deed was in Joshua's name. 

Nora. Faix, an' I wouldn't give it up for the loikes iv him. 

Clover. Indeed I wouldn't. 

Capt. Don't be alarmed. Miss. I ain't cut out for no farmer 
an' I ain't figurin' on gettin' the farm away from ye. 

Mr. M. Gosh ! Five thousand dollars would draw a pile ot 
interest in forty years. Did ye have anything to show for it? 



PEGGY OF PRIMROSE FARM 23 

Catt Right here is Josh's note. {Takes a crumpled paper 

from wnllet.) I've kept it ever sence. (Of Tiers examine it.) 
Squire. It's Joshua's signature all right. 

Mrs. G. But I've heerd that sech things outlaw after a 

"^^'capt That's true, ma'am. I expect this note's been out- 
lawedTgood many years. I ain't got no legal claim agains the 
esUte At first I was riled up. as I told ye but I ve thought 
different since, an' I'm here tonight to make a clean breast 

""^ '^Peggy. What do you think, Peter? It was your uncle's 

Peter I think it ought to be settled for Uncle Josh's sake 
and probably would have been if Uncle had known his brother 
was still alive. 

Peggy. Then suppose we each give him half of our money 
allowance. . 

Peter. Agreed. We'll have the Squire fix it up in that way. 

Capt. Now you're gettin' too generous. I'd be happy with 
jest the amount of the note. 

Petfr Then take what we offer and be twice as happy. Be 
as happy 'as Peggy and myself. For after all I will have ten 
thousand dollars and so will Peggy. 

Squire. I don't know how you make that out. There wasn't 
only twenty thousand in all. 

Pfter We're both aware of that, but isn't it true that what 
belongs to the husband belongs to the wife, and vice versa? 

Tim. Gosh ! They're goin' to be married. 

Cix)ver. Lordy ! 

Mrs. G. Is that so, Mrs. Mason? Be they really goin' to be 
married? 

Mrs. M. Yes. that's one thing you hadn't heard of. Pa an 
1 gave our consent this mornin*. 

Tim. We've got a secret, too. Ain't we. Clover? 

CLO^•ER. Um— hm. You bet. 

Jim. Shall I be tellin' 'em about oursilves. Nora? 

Nora. They moight as well know it now as ony toime. 

Jim. Thin I hereby announce the weddin' iv Miss Nora 
McCarty to Sunny Jim O'Reilly nixt wake. 

Peter. What? So soon? 

Nora. Yis sor, we jist decided tonight. 

Squire. Great Jupiter ! This is getting contagious. I feel 
some symptoms of it myself. How about you. Mehitable? 

Mrs. G. Oh. I feel it comin' on. Just think of it, Phineas. 
I've been a lone widder for night onto six years. 

Squire. And for five years I've been a wretched widower. 
Oh, Mehitable, my dear! 



24 PEGGY OP PRIMROSE FARM 

Mbs. M. Land o' Goshen ! This is gettin' ridiculous. 

Mr. M. Haw! haw! haw! 

Madge. Mercy! I hope I don't catch it. 

Capt. As for me, I'm too old an' salty for sech doin's, but 
if any of ye want to go for a vacation or mebbe a honeymoon 
you'll find a welcome with Skipper Bill an' me in a little cottage 
down by the seashore. 

Peter. Thank you, Uncle Peter. 

Peggy. And winter or summer, spring or fall, anytime and 
all times, you'll find open house at Primrose Farm. 

ALL. 

At Primrose Farm, at Primrose Farm, 
This gathering oft we'll see. 



I 



Peggy and Peter. 

And there'll be welcome for you all. 

ALL. 

And merry times there'll be. 

Curtain. 

The following positions are held at the close of act: A, 
Peter and Peggy; B, Mr. and Mrs. M.; C, Squire and Mrs. G.; 
D, Timothy and Clover; E, Su^ny Jim and Nora; F, Madge; 
and G, Capt. Wright. 

AA 

BB CC 

DD EE 

p G 




4 

i 



THE BUGBEE ENTERTAINMENTS 

ARE FAVORITES EVERYWHERE 



Coonville 'RIetocrat Club. A darkey play for church or 
school or any occasion. Clean and wholesome. 6m., 6f. Time, 
1 hour. 35 cents. 

Darktown Social Betterment Society. A good wholesome 
darkey play. Very funny. For 9 male characters. Time, 30 
minutes. 25 cents. 

Uncle Eben's Surprise Party. Here is another splendid 
negro play. It certainly is a surprise party. 6m., 6f. Time, 
30 minutes. 25 cents. 

Uncle SI and the Sunbeam Club. A delightful play for 
grammer grades. Opportunity for specialties. 7m., 7f. Time, 
30 minutes. 30 cents. 

Closing day at Beanvllle School. The most popular play 
for intermediate grades we have ever offered. 7m., 7f. (more 
or less). Time, 30 minutes or more. 30 cents. 

Seven Little Soldiers and Seven Little Maids. For primary 
or intermeiate grades. A splendid patriotic number. Book 
contains also "The Ldttle Patriots' Loyalty Drill." 25 cents. 

Midgets' Grand Parade. A delightful pageant for little 
tots. Very easy to produce. Time, 30 minutes. 25 cents. 

Funny Little Food Folks. A novelty entertainment for 
children. This is something different. Time, 30 min. 25 cents. 

Jolly Christmas Book. Hy Willis N. Bugbee. The latest, 
jolliest and most usable Christmas t>ook on the market Full 
of good things for a complete Christmas program. 40 cents. 

America's Flag. A beautiful patriotic march and drill 
with tableaux. For 8 or 12 girls. 25 cents. 

Following tKe Stars and Stripes. A splendid new patriotic 
pageant. This should be on every program. For any number 
of children. Time. 15 to 45 minutes. 25 cents. 

Pretty Pageants for Young Folks. These pageants are not 
only pretty but right up to the minute. Very easy and pleas- 
ing. Good for any time. 30 cents. 

Commencement Helps and Hints. For Eighth Grads 
People. Contains salutatories, valedictories, histories, class 
will, prophecies, banquet, class drill, play, yells, mottoes, 
colors, novel sports, songs, stunts, etc. A valuable book. 35 
cents. 

Commencement Treasury. Brimful of helpful material for 
the high school graduate. SaJutatories, valedictories, pro- 
phecies, etc., etc. 50 cents. 

Uncle Peter's Proposal. A farce in 2 acts by W. T. New- 
ton, 3m., 2f. A very clever little play. Time, 30 minutes. 25 
cents. 



THE WILLIS N. BUGBEE CO., SYRACUSE, N. Y. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

016 102 498 3 ' 



II 



THE BUGBEE ENTERTAINMENTS 

ARE FAVORETES EVERYWHERE 



Old Class Reunion. A prophetic class play. The members 
of the old class get together for the first time in 30 years. 
7m., 7f. 30 minutes. 25 cents. 

Mrs. Deacon Spriggs. A two-act play for older women. 
Full of good healthy fun and lively gossip. 12f. 30 minutes. 
25 cents. ^— 

The Bughee Song Novelties 

Sally and SI at the Circus. A duet for two country lovers 
who go to the circus and have a gay old time. 35 cents. 

Sewing Ladies Meet, The. The ladies meet to sew but 
you know how it is — they do more gossipping than sewing. 
Very cute. 35 cents. 

Little Washerwomen, The. An action song for little ladies 
at their tubs. A most delightful number. 35 cents. 

Won't You Come and Play With Me. A duet for boy and 
girl, or for two boys and two girls. To be sung with actions. 
35 cents. 

Dearest School of All, The. A pleasing song for a whole 
school or class. Can be used any time, or as farewell song. 
35 cents. 

We're Mighty Glad to See You. Another welcome song 
that will make the audience feel right at home. To be sung 
with action. 35 cents. 

When Santa Had the Rhumatiz. How dreadful It would 
have been if he hadn't got cured in time to make his rounds. 
35 cents. 

There's a Welcome Here for You. A song that offers a 
genuine welcome to the audience. 35 cents. 

Don't Forget to Come Again. Another delightful good-bye 
song. 35 cents. 

We've Got the Mumps. A novelty costume song for chil- 
dren supposed to be afflicted with the mumps. 35 cents. 

The Old Home Folks. A song for adults, or older boys 
and girls, to be used on any program. 35 cents. 

Our Latch Strings Hangs Outside.. A dandy new welcome 
song that will start your entertainment right. Sheet music. 
35 cents. 

Just Smile and Say Good-Bye. A capital song to send your 
audience home feeling good natured. Bright and catchy. 35 
cents. 

De Coonvllle Jubilee. The 'Ristocrats of Coonville hold a 
jubilee and "Dey didn't get home till the break ob day." Sheet 
music. 35 cents. 



THE WILLIS N. BUGBEE CO., SYRACUSE, N. Y. 



\ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




016 102 498 3 # 



